It's the last week of the PWHL regular season, and there is still a lot to be figured out before the puck drops to start the playoffs. Frequent co-host Alyssa Turner joins host Maya Smith, and they start by breaking down the newest Gold Plan teams, including the New York Sirens and Vancouver Goldeneyes. They discuss new info from the league about the Gold Plan seeding, plus whether or not it's actually doing what's intended: stopping teams from tanking. Then, they talk about the final playoff spot: a race between the Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge. Who has the most to lose? What does expansion mean for the future of coaches and GMs who don't make the playoffs? And which team do you pick if you're the first-place team? Lastly, they discuss what still needs to be figured out, including a first-place finisher, expansion announcements, and a playoff schedule. Follow Alyssa on X: https://x.com/aturnz11Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysportGoldeneyes elimination story: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/goldeneyes-officially-eliminated-from-playoff-contention-defeat-torrent-in-ot/Sirens elimination story: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-new-york/new-york-sirens-playoff-hopes-dashed-despite-win-over-sceptres

Subscribe to The IX Sports: https://www.theixsports.com/subscribe/

Photo credit: PWHL

Thomas Costello, Big Ten and WNBA Cleveland beat reporter for The IX Sports, joined Kathleen Gier to discuss the NWSL's announcement of the league's 18th club in Columbus.

Photo credit: Thomas Costello | The IX Sports

His story for The IX Sports:

https://www.theixsports.com/the-ix-soccer/nwsl-announced-columbus-as-leagues-18th-franchise/

Follow Thomas Costello:

https://bsky.app/profile/thomascostello.bsky.social

https://x.com/1ThomasCostello

The first elimination of the PWHL season is here! The Seattle Torrent were eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday night, just in time for Seattle Torrent beat reporter, Silvia Leija Rosas, to join the podcast again.

First, Maya and Silvia break down the elimination game for the Seattle Torrent and talk about how the team got to this point.

Then they talk about a very important rematch on Saturday between the Vancouver Goldeneyes and the Seattle Torrent, and the draft implications that could arise if Vancouver joins Seattle in elimination and in the Gold Plan. Plus, is travel really the reason the expansion teams aren't doing well?

Lastly, they talk about where the rest of the teams stand and the three-way race for the last playoff spot.

Follow Silvia on X: https://x.com/badnands

Read Silvia's newser on the Torrent's elimination: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-seattle/seattle-torrent-first-pwhl-team-eliminated-activate-gold-plan-loss-vancouver/

Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysport

Photo credit: PWHL

Host Kathleen Gier recaps the U.S. women's soccer team's first two matches against Japan during the April FIFA window and discusses what we've learned about Emma Hayes' lineup. She also talks about incoming Hall of Famers Tobin Heath and Heather O'Reilly, as well as a few of her favorite stories from The IX Sports lately.

Links:As the World Cup Gets Closer, Tierna Davidson Eases Her Way Back

Sporting JAX star Ashlyn Puerta is approaching life 1 match at a time

Angel City’s Sarah Gorden attempts to answer the age-old question: What’s in a name?

Photo credit: Darren Yamashita | Imagn Images

Video credit: U.S. Soccer

Howard Megdal and Jackie Powell report live from the 2026 WNBA draft where they take you all inside the rooms where it happened for the second annual WNBA Draft held at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Then Howard and Jackie discuss a long state of the league presser from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert followed by a run down of steals, winners and questionable picks from the 2026 draft.

Thumbnail photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Link to click that is referenced throughout the show: https://www.wnba.com/draft/2026/board

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The season is wrapping up, but the hunt for the final playoff spot is heating up.

Host Maya Smith and guest Geremy kick off the show by talking about the record-breaking attendance for the New York Sirens game at Madison Square Garden over the weekend, and talk about recognizing the people who came before, like the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL.

Then, they discuss the final playoff spot up for grabs in the league. Does it come down to just Toronto, New York, and Ottawa, or are Vancouver and Seattle still in it? And, even if they aren't mathematically eliminated, where is the line between going for a high draft pick and still focusing on the playoff race?

Lastly, they dive into the battle for Goaltender of the Year between Aerin Frankel and Ann-Reneé Desbiens. Spoiler alert: No one else is even close to unseating these two.

Follow Geremy on X: https://x.com/CreaseGiants

Subscribe to Crease Huddles: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bgfw2MagpAiqRDJuI2ZSm?si=cjvpW3Q8TE2_4sW8cjDGMg

Read Geremy's work: https://www.theixsports.com/author/geremy/

Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysport

Read Mike's article about MSG: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pro-womens-hockey-shines-bright-at-madison-square-garden/

Photo credit: PWHL

Chelsea recaps the WNBA expansion draft, National Championship game, and looks ahead to WNBA free agency.

Howard Megdal and Kathleen Gier recap UCLA's victory against South Carolina in the NCAA Division I women's basketball championship. They run through all the biggest storylines, explaining how Lauren Betts and the Bruins delivered the program's first national title of the NCAA era.

Howard's gamer: https://www.theixsports.com/newsletter/breaking-how-ucla-won-its-first-ncaa-womens-basketball-title/

Photo credit: Domenic Allegra | The IX Sports

Howard Megdal, Tee Baker, Rob Knox and Kathleen Gier report live from Mortgage Matchup Center, where UCLA and South Carolina advanced to the national championship game. Hear from Tee about UConn's reaction to the end of the winning streak, from Rob about South Carolina staying focused in pursuit of another national title, and from Kathleen about the end of Rori Harmon's time at Texas.

Howard rounds things out with some thoughts on Lauren Betts' performance for UCLA and predictions for the title game.

Photo credit: Domenic Allegra | The IX Sports

The Boston Fleet have officially clinched a spot in the PWHL playoffs! 

Maya Smith breaks down the clinching game and explains that the Montreal Victoire can clinch on Wednesday (they did after this recording). 

Then, she talks about the PWHL trade deadline, including a deadline day trade between the New York Sirens and the Minnesota Frost. And, with the season finished over in Europe, she talks about the newest PWHL signings. 

Then, Malia Schnieder, Goldeneyes reserve player, joins the show to talk about the PWHL takeover tour in Alberta and what it’s like being a reserve player! 

Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysport?s=21

The #1 at the IX story: https://www.theixsports.com/news/boston-fleet-clinch-first-2026-pwhl-playoff-berth/

Photo credit: PWHL